Dear Editor,
While we at PETA are glad that writer Jessica Baker is decrying the cruelty of foie gras, please allow me to correct some inaccuracies in her column, “Forget the foie gras unless it’s natural.”
Ducks do indeed have a gag reflex. In fact, a common cause of death on foie gras farms is aspiration pneumonia (which occurs when ducks inhale their own vomit). The ducks raised for foie gras are moulards, which are dabbling ducks, a different species with a different diet than the diving ducks foie gras apologists describe swallowing large fish. Nor are moulards migratory, but even migratory ducks do not gorge in preparation for migration—instead, they eat frequent small meals.
Moreover, PETA has never thrown blood on anyone or issued any death threats: Our protests may be colorful and eye-catching, but they are always peaceful. The same can’t be said for foie gras producers, however, who not only threaten ducks and geese with death, they actually follow through with their threats!
Sincerely,
Kenneth Montville
Senior College Campaign Strategist
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
